Zimbabwe: President Tsvangirai Launches the Vote Yes Campaign

File photo: President Jacob Zuma, center, with President Robert Mugabe, right, on a previous working visit to Zimbabwe.

press release

President Tsvangirai today launched the Vote Yes campaign at a colourful event before thousands of party members in Harare where he said it was improper for the three political leaders in the inclusive government to exclusively decide on the draft Constitution.

The President said it is strange that Zanu PF was backtracking when its Global Political Agreement (GPA) negotiators including its president, Robert Mugabe were involved in the drafting of the people-driven Constitution and appended their signatures to the final agreement.

"The way forward is that on Monday, I will meet Robert Mugabe and I have a few words," said President Tsvangirai.

"I am done with the Constitution-making process and let's go forward. Let the Speaker of the House of Parliament (Hon. Lovemore Moyo) organise an All Stakeholders' Conference and the Referendum leading to the holding of free and fair elections," he said.

"For three people to determine the best of this country is improper and I will not be part of that," said President Tsvangirai.

The three principals are; President Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF and Welshman Ncube.

President Tsvangirai said the new Constitution had nothing to do with personalities. "It has everything to do with the future of the country. This new Constitution is going to protect the voters, the will of the people and the future of the country.

"As the MDC, we must be fired up because this is our goal. This is what we fought for since 1999 when the party was formed," said President Tsvangirai.

He said Zanu PF was scared and panicking over the new Constitution as their misdeeds and evil acts had been exposed. "As the MDC, we are here to define the future of the country. To make a statement and the statement is very clear. We will not go back but forward. The current Lancaster House Constitution does not fulfil the interests of the people as it has been amended 19 times.

"The Lancaster House Constitution was a transfer of power document," he said.

President Tsvangirai said what Zanu PF was doing in attempting to rewrite the draft Constitution was going against the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

He said there was substance in the draft Constitution which included freedom, devolution and right to citizenship. He said the draft Constitution deals away with draconian issues such as Public Order and Security Act (Posa) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa).

"The new Constitution will clean up Posa and Aippa as it affects the people of Zimbabwe. What more do you want?" said President Tsvangirai.

Other dignitaries included the National Executive and National Council members, Harare and Chitungwiza provincial members, Ministers, MPs, councillors, diplomats, civic society members, students and all Harare Province structures up to branch level.

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